Tobacco leaf stitching device



E.R.COLEY ETAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 TOBACCO LEAF s'rncfimc DEVICE March 4, 1958 Filed April 13, 1956 March 4, 1958- v E. R. COLEY ETAL TOBACCO LEAF STITCHING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1956 Edward R. Coley Sidney L. Coley INVENTORS,

9 By @waoflw.

March 4, 1958 E. R. COLEY ET AL 2,825,474

TOBACCO LEAF STITCHING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1956 V 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 E dward 1?. Cole y Sidney L. Coley INVENTORS,

BY Aw WW 3m Mamh 4, 1953 E. R. C OLEY ET AL 2,825,474

TOBACCO LEAF STITCHING DEVICE Filed April 13, 1956 4 Sheets- Sheet 4 O0 0000 O0 O0 000 Edward R. Coley Sidney L. Coley INVENTORS,

(am/W 1? Atlarng's nitd This invention relates to an apparatus for stitching tobacco leaves together so as to enable the tobacco leaves to be suspended upon tobacco sticks in a convenient manner for storing and curing.

When curing tobacco it is necessary to suspend them in a loose manner so that the air will have access to all portions of the leaves during drying and curing operations. This suspension is usually effected by attaching leaves to sticks by the use of a string or other means and then the sticks are placed in spaced relation upon supports while the drying and curing operations are in progress. The time and effort involved in the curing operations are considerably reduced by the utilization of the present invention since the large amount of labor usually expended in hand tying the tobacco leaves on the tobacco sticks is substantially eliminated by the use of tobacco leaf stitching devices which automatically accomplishes the tying step.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a tobacco leaf stitching device which includes means for conveying a tobacco stick beneath the tobacco leaves to be secured thereon and which includes means synchronized with the conveying means for automatically cutting the end of the thread or string used in stitching the tobacco leaves and for urging the string into suitable clips which may be secured on the tobacco sticks.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in the provision of a tobacco leaf stitching device that is strong and durable, highly eflicient in operation, capable of being utilized in storage or curing barns, on tobacco harvesters, on other mobile vehicles, or on any suitable supporting structure such as a table.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this tobacco leaf tying device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the tobacco leaf stitching device comprising the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of the device as taken along the plane of line 3'3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view specifically illustrating the stitching needle and tobacco leaf guide arrangement as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 55 in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a plurality of tobacco leaves as secured on a tobacco stick in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

Figure 7 is a sectional detail view as taken along the plane of line 7-7 in Figure 2 showing in an enlarged scale the construction of the means for automatically cutting the thread or string on the end of a tobacco stick;

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view illustrating .tes Fate-at the engagement of the follower and the cam surface on the sprocket for actuating the cutter;

Figure 9 is an elevational detail view of the sprocket with the cam surface engaged by the follower;

Figure 10 is a plan view of a modified form of the conveyor arrangement employing a butt board and tray;

Figure 11 is a partial perspective view of the cutter arm and means for holding the string on the end of a tobacco stick;

Figure 12 is a sectional detail view of a modified form of cutter adapted to be utilized in the present invention shown with the cutter in an opened position; and

Figure 13 is a view similar to that of Figure 12 but showing the cutter in a closed position.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 20 generally designates the tobacco leaf stitching device comprising the present invention. This device may be mounted on a suitable table 22, on a vehicle such as a tobacco harvester or the like, or any convenient place in a barn or like building.

Mounted on a platform as at 24 supported by the table 22 is a drive motor 26 of any suitable type which drives sprocket 2% and the endless belt 30 entrained thereabout. The endless belt 39 is entrained about a sprocket 32 mounted on a shaft 34 on which sprockets 36 and 38 are also mounted. The endless belt 40 is entrained about the sprocket 36 and about a sprocket 42 on shaft 44' which has a sprocket 46 positioned thereon about which endless belt 48 is entrained. Entrained about the sprocket 33 is an endless belt 5% which is entrained about the sprocket 52 mounted on a shaft 54 having a similar sprocket 56 secured thereon. Entrained about the sprocket 56 is an endless belt 58 which is entrained about a sprocket 60 carried by the stub shaft 62 affixed to the table 22.

Mounted on the shaft 54 which extends transversely between the two side frame members 62 and 64 of the table 22 are rollers 66 and 68 about which endless belt conveyors 7t and 72 are entrained. Coextensive with the endless belt 7d and 72 are endless chain conveyors 74 and 76 having a plurality of links from which pins as at 78 and 8t) extend normal thereto. The conveyors and 72 are adapted to receive tobacco leaves thereon with the stems being received between adjacent pins 78 and 80 on the endless chain conveyors 74 and 76.

Operation of the conveyors 70 and 72 on the endless chains 74 and 76is accomplished by rotation of the shaft 54 upon operation of the motor 26.

Positioned between the endless chains 74 and 76 is a tobacco stick conveyor chain coextensive with the conveyors 70 and 72 and entrained about a sprocket 94 carried by the shaft 54. The conveyor chain 90 for the tobacco sticks has a plurality of lugs 96 arranged in spaced relationship along therewith so as to move tobacco sticks with the conveyors 70 and 72. The spacing of the lugs 96 permits timed operation of the device.

The endless belts 7i and 72 as well as the endless chain conveyors 66, 6d and 74 are entrained about rollers and sprockets mounted on a shaft 1% on the other end of the table. Adjacent the shaft 100 and centrally disposed with respect to the table 22 is a magazine 102 for a plurality of tobacco sticks H4 which are successively fed onto the tobacco stick conveyor 90 as the successive lugs 96 on the tobacco stick conveyor 9% engage the lowermost of the tobacco sticks 1554 in the magazine.

Mounted on a yoke 163 driven by the endless chain 48 is a shaft 106 carrying a sprocket 108 about which the chain 48 is entrained. ings as at 110 and carries a sprocket 112 which intermeshes with a larger sprocket 13d, see Figures 3 and 4,

The shaft 106 is mounted in beara The, foregoingprinciples. of the invention. Further, since numerousrnounted on a shaft 116. The shaft 116 carries a pulley '118iabout which an endless belt 126 is entrained, the

endless belt 120 being also entrained about pulleys 122,

124,, and. 126 adjustably carried a" guide bar 128. :through'the use of theadjustable arms .130. Theseapulleys.- are,-;-comparatively flat and wide and belt 132 is en- .thus forming a moving guide for tobacco leaves; Al'so-. keyed to the-shaft1ll6 isa'disk 140 havingan arm142eccentricallysecured thereto at 14 4 which arm 7 7 serves toreciprocate theneedle-.-143.receiving thread'145 from a-bobbinqlSorthelike; The needle 144 is actuate in timed relationship;with-respectfto-,thehook 154? mountedaon-the 1 shaft 152 and driven by means of'theendless belt-154' entrainedabout;the:-sprocket;36 and about .a

spl ocket 156 mounted on:the.,shaft 152. The needle is spaced; from sti'ckconveyor9tl and tobacco sticks car- 'ried thereby. 1 Driven by the endless chain 58-is a sprocket 160;which' intermeshes therewith and which has .a cam surfacej l62 provided-thereinwhich-is adapted. to be engaged by a follower 164 mounted'onan'arrn 166 which isgpivotally secured as. -at'168 :to a mounting bracket 17% carried by the frame m ember162; Thearrn 166 carries ashank fllhaving a blade l74 on the endthereof. This blade gis adapted to. c ,ut.t-he string or thread, 146' in timedrelationship with respecttotthe movement of the tobacco stick'along the tobacco stick conveyor; 90 due ,to the. relative sizegrelationship of: the; sprocket 160'and, thejdrivefor ithecndless ;belt 'conveyor 90 'It is :noted that. the motion-of the cam surfacer lfil 'serves to pivot, the follower-164 and-its. associatedi'arm. 166' and hence raisethe shankf172 and: the blade 174.

As can-The seen best in Figure" l2,"a. modified form, of.

lade 1.7.leisgutilizedgxthe r'n'odified'v blade .beingj indicated 7 'at1'190;andfincludingzarblade portion 392 having another:

spring pressed pivotally mounted bladeportion 194; The

blade-portion194 is normally urgedinto an open position by means o'f'a- 1spring196 and its openportion is lirnitedz-bymeansof: a'stop 198; However,': when :the r shank Zlltltowhich the bla'deportion 192 is attached is.

a lowered, the blade 1% will engagera stop202mounted on-the; table-1114 Qandjthe: blade portion',.19.4"v will: ibe

'c'ammed into. cutting engagement with the blade. portion 122.111:.arscissorzmannen;;.

a I Akrotating; :butt: cutter 210 i may be.

leavesnthatare too large or: unwieldy ini-aiconvenientimanner'. I

As shown best in'Figuret10,-. a tray 214' as we'll asian may. be easilycut optional; i p

'Ascan be best seen 'in' Figure 1'1,'the tobacco sticks104 may beprovidedwith substantially Z-shaped clips. 105 01; the ends thereof so that when the. cutter blades 'asat 174 cut: thaend of the strings, the; cutter blades'will press theend of" thestrings into'the clips'105in an automatic manneri 7 V is considered as illustrative only of the mountedon the frame memberj62 Tsorthat the butts or stems of tobacco nv vq riandi ;to' the exact construction and operation shown and de-' I scribed, and accordingly, all, suitable modificationsand V V to, falling within the scope equivalents may. be resorted of the invention as claimed;- V V What is claimed as new is as follows; 7

1. A tobacco leaf stitching apparatus comprising a 1 5 table, a pair of endless belt'conveyorssnpported on said table, a pair of endless chain conveyors coextensive with, i said endless belt conveyors extending along the adjacent side edges of said endless belt-conveyors," drivegmeans j for driving said endless belt conveyorsand said endless chain conveyors connected thereto, -=agstitching device supportedby said table between said endless chain conveyors for stitching stems of tobacco. leavestog'ethena tobacco stick conveyor between said endless chain conveyor's. for moving tobacco sticks in synchronization with movement oftobacco. leaves said belt. conveyors, said stitchinggdevice being in alignment Withsaid-tobaccofstick conveyor,. and means synchronized with said drive ineans conveyon said last recited means including a sprocket driven bysaid drive means, a cam surface on said sprocket, -a pivotally mounted link having a follower appended thereto, said'follower engaging, said cam surface. on said r p sprocket, a shank attached to said link and having a blade, V

said tobacco stick 1 affixed.- thereto, .said blade. overlying conveyor. I

. 2'. tobacco leaf stitching apparatus comprisingja of endless belt conveyors for supporting and cona veying tobacco leaves, a pair'of endles's' chain" conveyors coextensive with, said endless belt conveyors 1 extending" along the adjacent side edges of said endless belt' conveyors for engagingandconveyingstems of'tobacco I leaves, a plurality of lugs. secured. to said endless-"chain conveyor in spaced relationship, stems of tobacco leaves being receivable r between said lugs, drivefmeans' for driving said endl'essbeltconveyors and said endless-chain conveyors. connected theretofastitchingi'deyice between said: endless;chain-convey0rs for stitching stems of to bacco leaves withthread j0iningthe stemstogether, a

tobacco stick conveyor between said, endless chain con veyors fo'r moving tobacco sticks-in synchronization 'withg moyementiofYtQbaccQIeaYesby said: belt conveyors,;said-f stitching evi ebeingjm alignment withsaidtobacco stick V e,-ans synchronizedwithgsaid driv'e means for cutting th th'r'eadustitching tobacco ,leaves'together adjacentvamend of a. tobacco stick on said tobacco stick conveyor ;said.;lastjrecitedmeans including a sprocket drivenbysaid drive means,a cam surface. on said sprocket,

a; pivotally-mounted-link having a follower appended thereto saidfollower'engagingsaid camsurface .on said sprocket, a shank attached to said link and having ablade aflixe d 'thereto,said blade. overlying, said tobacco stick conveyor.

References Citedinthe file ofthis' patent :UNIIEDSTATES PATENTS 7 1,862,192". Michauk June 7, 1932; V 1 1,987,844 Bass' f Ian. 15, 1935 2,327,252 Dickerson V V Aug. 17,1943 r 2,776,760 Co'vin'gton Jan-811957 

